Individuals in Medicaid Deserve Care That is Appropriate and Responsible in its Execution Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Mrs. Walters for introducing this legislation.

Throughout this committee's and subcommittee's work on opioids, the IMD exclusion has been consistently identified by many stakeholders in conversations not only in my office but with the subcommittee as a barrier to care for Medicaid patients who need inpatient treatment.

In the face of an epidemic that is taking the lives of 115 Americans on average every day, I believe this policy strikes the right balance. The IMD CARE Act targets limited resources to remove a barrier to care by allowing States to repeal the IMD exclusion for 5 years for Medicaid beneficiaries between the ages of 21 and 64 who have an opioid use disorder. This approach will provide States the flexibility to increase access to institutional care for those who truly need it.

While getting a waiver from CMS for the IMD exclusion is a good option for many States, less than half the States have applied for a waiver. We are losing too many of our friends and neighbors each day to this crisis to ask States to go through what can be a lengthy and uncertain process to secure a waiver.

The IMD CARE Act allows States to act now to ensure their patients who are suffering now from a terrible disease can get the care that they need and get it now.

I ask my fellow Members to join me in support of Mrs. Walters' bill.

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